Computer Languages
Memory Addresses


Memory addresses direct the computer to where data is located or where it is to be transferred. Assembly Language uses easily identifiable symbolic addressing and allows the programmer to work in the more familiar base ten number system.

In the example below the variables TOTALSCORE, FRENCHSCORE AND ENGLISHSCORE are addressed by their names (symbolic addressing), not by their physical address in memory.

Example Code:

MOV AX, TOTALSCORE puts the value of TOTALSCORE into AX
MOV BX, FRENCHSCORE puts the value of FRENCHSCORE into BX
ADD AX, BX adds the value in BX to the value in AX
ADD AX, 50 adds 50 to the value in AX
MOV TOTALSCORE, AX puts the value in AX back into TOTALSCORE

AX and BX are registers.

So if to begin with TOTALSCORE equals 15 and FRENCHSCORE equals 20 then TOTALSCORE would become 15+20+50=85 after this part of the code has run.
The decimal number 50 is an example of the base ten number system being used in assembler.